AG Yost Moves to Consolidate Class Action Proceedings

Ahead of next month’s huge opioid trial in Cleveland, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost recently asked the court with jurisdiction over the multi-state litigation to consolidate the more than 2,000 local-government lawsuits under state attorneys general. After a federal judge denied the motion, AG Yost assailed the decision and announced his support for legislation to ensure that attorneys general control the means and fate of any settlement or judgement money — not lawyers for cities and counties.

AG Yost explained that the continuation of the settlement negotiations would effectively deprive 86 of Ohio’s 88 counties of having a voice in the proceedings, possibly preventing relief to some of the hardest-hit counties. 9/19/2019